[Harp-L] Feedback?

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

"Q. Why is the gain of the mic more important than the gain of the  
entire system including the mic and the amp?"

Vern,

I'm no sound tech, but feedback occurs when the mic picks up the  
sound coming from the speaker.  A "hotter" mic is more sensitive to  
what it picks up. Lowering the output of the mic cools it out and  
makes it less sensitive and so less likely to feed back.

You are unquestionably correct that the gain characteristics of the  
rest of the amplification also play a part.  For example, using the  
same mic, a Blues Junior will be more feedback prone than a Princeton  
Reverb Reissue  because the BJ is a higher gain amp.  But like Mad  
Cat is saying, "With a lower output mic there is much less problem  
with feedback in any guitar amp..."

JP